BOSTON - Corey Hassan hit a leaner with 2.6 seconds remaining to propel the Boston University men's basketball team to a thrilling 43-41 victory over Vermont Sunday afternoon at Agganis Arena. BU was able to survive despite shooting just 25.4% from the field, as the Terriers grabbed a remarkable 25 offensive rebounds. Hassan and Kevin Gardner led the Terriers with 11 points apiece, as BU improved to 7-11 overall, 4-3 in the America East. UVM fell to 8-9, 4-3.

     Trailing 41-37, BU scored the final six points of the game. Shaun Wynn hit a 3-pointer from the side to cut the deficit to one, 41-40 with 2:23 remaining. Vermont's Kyle Cieplicki missed a shot on the Catamounts' next possession, and Hassan hit a free throw to knot the game at 41 with 1:02 left. He missed his second attempt, but Wynn grabbed the rebound to give the Terriers new life. Hassan missed a three, but Ben Coblyn grabbed the board, setting up the final play. Hassan took a feed from Brian Macon, took one dribble inside the arc and drilled shot from 16 feet.

     "The play was designed to get Corey the shot," said BU head coach Dennis Wolff, who earned the 199^th win of his career on the Terrier bench. "The ball went in and he deserves the credit for making the play."

     After a Trimboli 3-pointer with 14:19 remaining in the game gave the Catamounts a 39-31 lead, UVM would not score another basket. Vermont managed just four shots and the Terriers grabbed 13 offensive boards the rest of the way, as the Terriers ended the game with a 12-2 run. Vermont was just 4-9 from the field in the final 20 minutes, as the Terriers took 28 more shots (59-31) and outrebounded UVM 41-25. The 41 points were Vermont's lowest total since 1980.

     "I have been a college coach for 25 years and I have never seen a stranger stat sheet," said Wolff. "The [25 offensive rebounds] speaks to the effort put forth by our kids. Our guys kept going after it right to the bitter end."

     BU began its comeback on a hoop by Gardner, which cut the deficit to 39-33 with 11:20 remaining. Gardner, who missed last Thursday's game against Stony Brook with an injured hamstring, returned to the starting lineup and played 30 minutes, while grabbing nine rebounds (five offensive). Bryan Geffen hit a pair of free throws to cut the margin to 39-35, and Omari Peterkin's bucket in the paint drew the Terriers to within two with 7:37 left. Trimboli hit a pair of free throws with 5:22 left for UVM's final points. Hassan's game-winning shot would give BU its first lead since the 17:11 mark of the first half.

     BU fell behind early in the first half, as the Catamounts hit 10 of their first 13 shots to take a 22-13 lead 12 minutes into the game. Forward Chris Holm was unstoppable, scoring eight points early down low, as BU had no answer for the physical post player. The UVM lead was nine, 28-19, when Hassan drained a three just before the halftime buzzer, and BU went into intermission trailing by just six, 28-22, despite shooting 27% from the field.

     Trimboli finished with a game-high 14 points to lead Vermont, while Holm had 10. Vermont shot 55% from the field, but the Catamounts hurt themselves going just 4-9 from the free throw line. BU's 25.4% shooting was its lowest of the season, however the Terriers tied a season-high with 10 steals and forced 15 turnovers.

     BU continues its three-game homestand on Wednesday, when the Terriers face Hartford at the Roof. Game time is 7 p.m., as Wolff makes his first attempt at his 200^th win for BU. To purchase tickets for Terrier home games, or for more information, click here or visit the Ticket Office at 925 Commonwealth Avenue, Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., or call 617-353-GOBU (4628).

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